Meet the Team
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John White
Lead of Hazelnut Community
Revd John White is the founder and leader of Hazelnut Community Bristol and the Hazelnut Network. An ordained pioneer minister in the Church of England, he is passionate about helping people reconnect with nature, build resilient communities, and imagine hopeful responses to the challenges of our time.
John regularly speaks and trains on creation care, pioneering mission, and community building. He loves getting his hands dirty in the garden, sharing food around a table, and helping others grow communities where people and nature can thrive together.
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Aisling O'Shea
Childrens worker and garden assistant
I recently joined Hazelnut as the Children's Worker and Assistant Gardener and am passionate about helping people connect through nature, creativity and play. I have 20 years of experience working with children and families, and previously worked as a consultant specialising in authentic play and the use of art and creativity as tools for learning.
I am fascinated by the abundance of creation and am always learning more about the wonderful gifts nature has to offer, from growing food and medicinal plants to exploring the hidden world through microscopy.
aisling@hazelnutcommunityfarm.com
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Bryony Davis
Hazelnut Bristol Chaplain
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Cate Williams
Network Project Coordinator
Cate is a freelancer trainer specialising in eco aware missional approaches, alongside more general aspects of theological education. She has previously been in parish ministry in York and Oxford dioceses, and Diocesan staff for the Diocese of Gloucester, with Mission and Evangelism, and Environment remits. She is co-facilitator of Glevum Forest Church; initiator and chair of a local conservation volunteering group; and a member of the Fresh Expressions leadership community. Her PhD explored 'earthed spirituality' as expressed through pioneer ministry.
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Angus Lam
Lead Gardener
Angus is a food sovereignty researcher who began his career working on various community-
supported agriculture (CSA) farms. After several years as an anti-GM campaigner, he shifted his
focus to working with indigenous communities in Asia, facilitating farmer-to-farmer agroecological
learning.
He is passionate about growing food and community seed systems. Since early 2022, Angus has
been with Hazelnut Community Farm in Bristol, where he promotes culturally appropriate foods and
urban food growing in addressing climate crisis. The experience has helped him take root in a new
society and connect to the land and community life.